This paper investigates the drivers of growth and prosperity in a group of eleven European countries -- Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia (the EU11). Since the EU11 began the transformation process, this group of emerging countries has made impressive strides as developing market economies and is anchoring development in European Union institutions. There are reasons to believe that the convergence of EU11 income per capita to Western European levels will continue, but will proceed more slowly. The paper concludes that trade and financial integration have sped along at a spectacular pace in the EU11 in the recent past, although trade in modern services and the integration of government bond and equity markets are somewhat behind. As in the rest of Europe, demographic developments will pose huge challenges for the sustainability of public finance in the EU11 economies. In the next several decades, the EU11 labor force is expected to contract more than labor forces in the rest of the European Union, making it even more urgent that countries in the region reform pension systems, change migration policy, and find incentives to attract talent to the region. Closing the gap with the rest of the European Union in educational attainment levels and improving education quality might significantly soften the constraints imposed by the demographic threats and produce sizable returns in terms of additional income convergence.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-18T21:36:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 Paulo Sergio Ribeiro1.pdf: 2109374 bytes, checksum: 1ff4b8a7334397d794c09c418079e776 (MD5) Paulo Sergio Ribeiro2.pdf: 3132872 bytes, checksum: 48f547e687886b7890e80ec7a490f153 (MD5) Paulo Sergio Ribeiro3.pdf: 2689619 bytes, checksum: 98d138df083b0e4eea2c480703b1c714 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-01-26 / Uma nova liga a base de ferro (aço) para moldes plásticos foi obtida com características melhoradas quando comparada aos materiais usualmente utilizados no mercado. Os materiais, existentes no mercado, usados como referência neste trabalho, também não são indicados para utilização que necessitem acabamentos especiais. Para aplicações de uso restrito ou que requeiram acabamentos especiais, como texturização, por exemplo, outros testes, teriam que ser realizados. Com estas características atingiu-se melhor produtividade do molde, opções de menor custo, dependendo da variação de custo de liga, no mercado internacional, bem como uma redução no consumo de energia na produção das peças, por conta da melhoria da condutividade térmica. Como resultado deste trabalho atingiu-se a manutenção das características mecânicas quando comparado aos aços equivalentes comerciais em uso, obtendo ganho expressivo em condutividade térmica. Também foi obtida a possibilidade de obter-se um aço com estrutura compatível com a aplicações do aço DIN 1.2738 até 600 mm de espessura, com menor adição de elementos de liga.

The marked increase in demand for miniaturized consumer products in a broad range of potential applications including medical, telecommunication, avionics, biotechnology and electronics is a result of advancements in miniaturization technologies. Consequently, engineering components are being drastically reduced in size. This coupled with the quest for higher quality components, has imposed more stringent requirements on manufacturing processes and materials used to produce micro components. Hence, the development of ultra precision manufacturing processes to fabricate micro-scale features in engineering products has become a focal point of recent academic and industrial research. However, much attention in the area of micro-manufacturing, especially micro-mechanical machining, has been devoted to building miniature machine tools with nanometer positioning resolution and sub-micron accuracy. There is lack of fundamental understanding of mechanical machining at the micro and nano scale. Specifically, basic understanding of chip formation mechanism, cutting forces, size-effect in specific cutting energy, and machined surface integrity in micro and nano scale machining and knowledge of how these process responses differ from those in macro-scale cutting are lacking. In addition, there is a lack of investigations of micro and nano scale cutting of common engineering materials such as aluminum alloys and ferrous materials. This thesis proposes to advance the understanding of machining at the micro and nano scale for common engineering alloys. This will be achieved through a series of systematic micro and nano cutting experiments. The effects of cutting conditions on the machining forces, chip formation and machined surface morphology in simple orthogonal micro-cutting of a ferrous, P20 mold steel (30 HRC), and a non-ferrous structural alloy, aluminum AL7075 (87 HRB), used in the mold making and rapid prototyping industry will be studied. The data will also be compared with data obtained from conventional macro-scale cutting. In addition, the applicability of conventional metal cutting theory to micro and nano cutting test data will be examined. The analysis will provide a better understanding of machining forces, chip formation, and surface generation in micro and nano scale cutting process and how it differs from macro-scale cutting.

In this study we investigate the impact of trust on the performance of cooperating firms, taking into account two core aspects: First, we look at environmental uncertainty, which shows in the degree of change there is in business freedom. Second, we account for behavioral uncertainty-captured as the average level of freedom from corruption in a country. Based on survey data from 791 firms engaged in national cooperation in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, we find that behavioral coordination based on trust impacts on cooperating firms' performance positively in dynamic and negatively in stable contexts. Freedom from corruption enhances firm performance in dynamic contexts but is not a significant predictor in stable contexts. Further, we find the trust-performance relationship to be moderated by freedom from corruption in dynamic but not in stable contexts. The findings contribute to a more contextualized research on trust and interorganizational cooperation, as has been called for recently. (authors' abstract)

La tristeza es la enfermedad viral más grave del cultivo de los cítricos y su agente causal es el virus de la tristeza de los cí­tricos (CTV). CTV induce uno o más de los siguientes sí­ndromes: I) decaimiento y muerte de los naranjos dulces (ND), pomelos y mandarinos injertados sobre el patrón naranjo amargo (NA), sí­ndrome conocido como "tristeza", II) enanismo, acanaladuras en la madera y fruta de pequeño calibre (stem pitting, SP), y III) enanismo y amarillamiento de plantas de semilla de limonero, pomelo y NA (seedling yellows, SY). La gama de huéspedes de CTV es muy restringida y hasta hace poco no se conocí­a ningún huésped herbáceo experimental. Actualmente, se sabe que la agroinfiltración de Nicotiana benthamiana, con clones de DNA complemantario (cDNA) del aislado T36 de CTV produce la infección sistémica de la planta, acompañada de sí­ntomas similares a los inducidos en cí­tricos, si bien la infección no queda limitada al floema. El aislado T36 induce SY y SP de lima Mejicana (LM), pero no en otros huéspedes como pomelo o ND. El estudio de los determinantes genéticos responsables de la inducción del sí­ndrome de SP requerí­a desarrollar un sistema genético basado en clones agroinfecciosos de un aislado inductor de estos sí­ntomas, como el aislado español T318A. Para ello, se partió de clones de cDNA de longitud completa de T318A previamente desarrollados en el laboratorio, capaces de replicarse en hojas de N. benthamiana pero incapaces de inducir infección sistémica y que presentaban varias mutaciones en su proteína de cápsida minoritaria p27. La corrección de dichas mutaciones y la construcción de nuevos clones de longitud completa de T318A marcados con el gen gfp, mostraron una correcta replicación en hojas agroinfiltradas de N. benthamiana, pero resultaron incapaces de inducir infección sistémica en este huésped experimental. La respuesta diferencial de N. benthamiana frente a distintas cepas de CTV permite estudiar los factores implicados en la interacción virus-huésped. Se analizó la interacción de las proteí­nas virales p20 y p25 de los aislados T36 y T318A con proteí­nas de N. benthamiana utilizando un abordaje consistente en: i) la expresión transitoria de p20/p25 marcadas con una etiqueta Strep-Tag en hojas de N. benthamiana, ii) purificación de los complejos proteí­na CTV-proteína huésped y análisis interactómico de los datos, y iii) estudio de la interacción directa entre p20/p25 y proteínas seleccionadas del huésped mediante análisis del doble hibrido en levadura y complementación bimolecular de fluorescencia (BIFC). Este abordaje proteómico mostró claras diferencias entre aislados que pueden explicar, en parte, el comportamiento diferencial de los aislados T36 y T318A en dicho huésped experimental. La inducción el síndrome de decaimiento por parte de CTV ha obligado a utilizar patrones tolerantes al decaimiento. Dichos patrones son menos adecuados. Las plantas de cí­tricos propagadas sobre NA e infectadas por CTV muestran necrosis en los tubos cribosos y disminución del floema funcional. Éstos desórdenes podrí­an ser consecuencia de la activación de los mecanismos de defensa como la reacción de hipersensibilidad desencadenada por la ruta del ácido salicí­lico o el silenciamiento génico mediado por RNA (post-transcriptional gene silencing, PTGS). Con el objetivo de avanzar en el mecanismo molecular de la resistencia del NA a la infección por CTV, se estudió el papel de diferentes genes de la planta implicados en las rutas mediante el uso de un vector viral basado en el genoma del virus del manchado foliar de los cítricos (citrus leaf blotch virus, CLBV). El silenciamiento génico de las rutas del AS o del PTGS en plantas NA y la inoculación de tres aislados de CTV patogénicamente diferentes mostró la implicación de ambas rutas en la defensa del NA frente a CTV. / Tristeza is the most important viral disease affecting citrus plants and Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is the causal agent of this disease. CTV induces at least one of this syndromes: I) decline and death of sweet orange (SwO), grapefruits and mandarin trees grafted on sour orange (SO) rootstock, this syndromes is known as "tristeza", II) stunting, stem pitting (SP) and small fruits, and III) stunting and leaf chlorosis of lemon, grapefruit and SO seedlings (seedling yellows, SY). The host range of CTV is restricted and until recently no experimental herbaceous host was known. The agroinoculation Nicotiana benthamiana with clones of complementary DNA (cDNA) from the CTV isolate T36 cause the systemic infection of the plant and similar symptoms to those observed in citrus, although the infection is not limited to the phloem. T36 isolate induces SY and SP of Mexican lime (ML), but not in other hosts such as grapefruit and SwO. Therefore, to study the genetic determinants responsible of the SP syndrome induction was necessary to develop a genetic system based on agroinoculated clones from an isolate able to induce these symptoms, such as the Spanish isolate T318A. To do this, full length cDNA clones from T318A were obtained. They are able to replicate in N. benthamiana leaves but unable to induce systemic infection and showed several mutations in their protein of the minor coat, p27. The correction of these mutations and the construction of new clones of complete length from T318A labeled with the gfp gene, showed a proper replication in agroinoculated leaves of N. benthamiana, but they were still unable to induce systemic infection in this experimental host. The differential response of N. benthamiana to different CTV strains allows the study of the potential factors involved in the virus-host interaction. The aim of this work was study the interaction between the viral proteins p20 and p25 from the isolates T36 and T318A with N. benthamiana proteins with an analysis consisted in: I) the transitory expression of p20/p25 fused to Strep-Tag in N. benthamiana leaves, II) purification of the CTV protein-host protein complex and interatomic analysis of the data, and III) the study of the direct interaction between p20/p25 and selected plant proteins by the analysis of the double hybrid in yeast and bimolecular complementation of fluorescence (BIFC). The proteomic analysis showed strong differences between isolates that may partially explain the differential behavior of the T36 and T318A isolates in this experimental host. The induction of decline syndrome by CTV in citrus has leaded the use of tolerant rootstocks to decline. However, the use of such rootstocks is less suitable. Citrus plants propagated on SO rootstock and infected by CTV show phloem necrosis below the bud union that reduces the flow of carbohydrates to the roots. These symptoms may be a consequence of the activation of defense pathways in the plant, such as the hypersensitive reaction, hormone salicylic acid (SA) pathways or the RNA mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). Their relation is essential to know their implication in the decline. Therefore, the role of different genes involved in SA and PTGS has been studied by the silencing of plant genes using a viral vector (VIGS) based in the genome of the citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV). The gene silencing of the SA and PTGS in SO and the inoculation of three different pathogenicity CTV isolates showed that both pathways are involved in the SO defense against CTV. The analysis of the proteins p20, p23 and p25 as possible suppressors of the AS indicating that the more virulent CTV isolates possess the more powerful suppressors. / La Tristesa és la malaltia viral més greu del cultiu dels cítrics. CTV induïx un o més de les sí­ndromes següents: I) decaïment i mort de taronger dolç§ (ND), pomelo i mandariner empeltats sobre el patró taronger amarg (NA), sí­ndrome conegut com "Tristesa", II) nanisme, estries en la fusta i fruita de xicotet calibre (SP) i III) nanisme i tonalitat groguenta de plantes de llavor de llimera, pomelo i taronger amarg (SY). El rang d'hostes de CTV és molt restringit i fins fa poc no es coneixia cap hoste herbaci experimental. Actualment es sap que la infecciò sistèmica en Nicotiana benthamiana amb clons de DNA complementari (cDNA) de l`aïllat de T36 provoca la infecció sistemàtica de la planta, acompanyada de síntomes similars als induïts en cí­trics, si be la infecció no queda llimitada al floema. L' aïllat T36 induïx SY i estries en la fusta de Llima Mexicana (LM), però no en altres hostes com a pomelo, ND o NA, l'estudi dels determinants genètics responsables de la inducció de la síndrome de SP requeria desenvolupar un sistema genètic basat en clons agroinfecciosos d'un aïllat inductor d'estos sí­mptomes, com l'aïllat espanyol T318A. Per a això, es va partir de clons de cDNA longitud completa de T318A prèviament desenvolupats al laboratori, capaços de replicar-se en fulls de N. benthamiana però incapaços d'induir infecció sistèmica i que presentaven varies mutacions en la seua proteïna de càpsida minoritatia p27. La correcció d`aquestes mutacions i la construcció de nous clons T318A de longitud completa marcats amb el gen gfp, van mostrar una correcta replicació en fulls agroinfiltradas de N. benthamiana però van resultar incapaços d'induir infecció sistèmica en aquest hoste experimental. La resposta diferencial dependent d'aïllat en N. benthamiana front CTV permet estudiar els possibles factors de la interacció virus- hoste. Es va dur a terme l'estudi de la funció de les proteínes virals p20 i p25 dels aïllats T36 i T318A amb proteïnes de N. benthamiana utilitzant un abordatge consistent en: i) l' expressió transitòria de les dues proteïnes p20/p25 marcades amb una etiqueta Strep-Tag en fulls de N. benthamiana, ii) purificació dels complexos proteïna CTV-proteïna hoste i anàlisi interactómic de les dades, i iii) estudi de la interacció directa per mitjà  de doble híbrid en llevat i complementació bimolecular de fluorescència (BIFC) de les proteïnes virals i determinades proteïnes de N. benthamiana. Aquest abordatge proteòmic va mostrar clares diferències entre aïllats que poden explicar el comportament diferencial dels aïllats T36 i T318A en aquest hoste experimental. La inducció de la sí­ndrome de decaïment per part de CTV en cí­trics ha obligat la utilització de patrons tolerants al decaïment. No obstant, aquestos patrons són agronòmicament menys adequats. Les plantes de cítrics propagades sobre NA i infectades por CTV mostren necrosi als tubs cribosos i disminució del floema funcional. Aquestos sí­mptomes poden ser conseqüència de l'activació de les rutes de defensa de la planta com la reacció d'hipersensibilitat, desencadenada per la ruta de l'àcid salicí­lic o el silenciamient gènic mediat per RNA (PTGS). Amb l'objectiu d'analitzar la implicació d¿aquestes rutes en la defensa, es va estudiar el paper de diferents gens implicats en la ruta de l'AS i del PTGS per mitjà  del silenciamient gènic induït per virus basat en el genoma del tacat foliar dels cítrics (CLBV). El silenciamient gènic de les rutes AS o PTGS en plantes NA i la inoculació de tres aïllats de CTV patogènicament diferents va mostrar la implicació de les dues rutes en la defensa del NA front CTV. L'analisis de les proteïnes p20, p23 i p25 com a possibles supressors de la ruta de l'AS va indicar que els aïllats més virulents de CTV posseïxen supressors més potents. / Gómez Muñoz, N. (2017). ESTUDIO DE LA INTERACCIÓN DIFERENCIAL ENTRE AISLADOS DEL VIRUS DE LA TRISTEZA DE LOS CÍTRICOS (CTV) Y SUS HUÉSPEDES [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/94624 / TESIS